Special school staff, an those working in colleges providing intimate care, as well as at risk staff will be prioritised for the coronavirus vaccine along with care workers.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) which advises UK health departments on immunisation, agreed certain special school staff should be classed as care workers and that at risk school and college staff should also be prioritised.
Headteachers, including Chris Britten, head of Ysgol y Deri special school in Penarth, have been pressing for school staff to be prioritised after health workers and vulnerable groups.
Responding to the decision by the JCVI First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “All frontline ambulance staff in Wales will have had their first dose by next week and we will be extending vaccination to staff working in special schools and to school and college staff who are at risk, in line with the latest advice from the JCVI.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams said: "Staff whose role it is to provide intimate personal care for some of our most vulnerable students (in school or college) with complex medical needs will be included as part of the priority list for vaccination along with social care workers."
Both have warned that schools and colleges can only re-open once infection rates fall significantly and pressure on the NHS eases. Ms Williams said re-opening also depends on people following lockdown rules, the vaccination programme and ramped up safety measures in schools and colleges.
